Tenby Sailing Club Race Results.

          A large fleet of 66 Scorpion sailing dinghies arrived in Tenby for their annual week-long National Championship. With competitors travelling from all over the UK, this was the highest number of entries for a number of years, indicating Tenby's popularity as a venue for staging national championships.

          Although not blessed with much sunshine during the week, the elements provided plenty of excitement and incident and it proved a testing experience for dinghy sailors and rescue boat crews who were kept busy throughout the week.

          Principal race officer Blake Shaw and assistant race officer Mark Dashfield had their work cut out in setting courses with strong tides and shifting wind conditions, but to their credit were able to stage nearly every race on the sailing programming.

          The eventual winners of the championship were John Mursell and Nick Keast from Castle Cove Sailing Club. The victors used all their experience in variable racing conditions to pick up the National Champion accolade for a remarkable eighth time.

          The sailors also enjoyed a week-long social programme ranging from the Summer Spectacular evening, a hearty BBQ, an inspired fancy dress party, Commodore's reception and prize-giving events (with the Royal visit proving an interesting distraction as his helicopter flew over the fleet). Tenby Sailing Club would like to thank the co-operation of Tenby harbourmaster Carl Evans and PCC, together with main sponsors Texaco. Additional help with safety craft from Tenby Watersports, of Castle Hill, and also Tenby Marine, of North Beach, was gratefully received. They even released key staff to help.

          Special mention to beachmaster Paul Jackson and his team, rescue boat co-ordinator Terry Evans and his large team of helpers who crewed the various rescue craft, club steward Howard Ball and his team who kept the thirsty sailors watered, caterers Ruth Tebitt, Julia Dashfield and their team who worked hard providing pre and post sailing food, committee boat helpers John Griffiths, Alistair Mackay, recorders Nicole Evans and Judy Morgan, and everyone else who contributed during a long and hectic week.

          With the sailing championships out of the way, Tenby's cruiser fleet headed out to Saundersfoot for their Cruiser Regatta weekend. John Griffiths in 'Tejeda' had a particularly inspired weekend, winning all three races, including Sunday's round Caldey event. He was chased hard by Daniel Jackson in 'Enigma', Rolly Squibbs in 'Sapphire', with 'Aries', sailed by Steve Lewis, 'Hawk', sailed by Ted Lewis, and 'Slipstream', helmed by Blake Shaw, all in the frame.